October Novel Prep Challenge

The Assignment: Outline Revision #2
(1) Review your plot elements thus far and organize them into your outline.
(2) Add a chronological timeline to your revised outline, using whatever measure of time is appropriate in your story. Determine when plot events happen in time (which is not necessarily when you will reveal them in your novel.)
(3) Optional: Brainstorm the best chronology(ies) for your story and work it(them) into your outline.


Here we go again.

That is right, we are back to the outline. This is the chance to use what you have learned from the assignments over the last week in order to expand upon your idea that was outlined a week ago with draft #1. We have a couple of options here as we work on the assignment, for those that haven't gotten ahead on the calendar.

1. Add to the first outline.

If you don't have much and/or learned more about your story, then this is a good time to start adding. Fill out that outline with some more information. I start with the big points, then add some smaller points once I know more. It helps to build things up since I often know main elements but then have to figure out how to get the characters there. With each draft, you can put in more information into that outline.

2. Try a different outline format.

If you went all in during the first draft of the outline and put in everything possible, that is okay. Since we have the chance to work on the outline for a few different days, it is possible to do more than one version of the same outline. If you feel like the first one is complete, maybe check out the other options from the assignment post for draft 1. If you did the five point outline, maybe in draft two you can try the hero's journey or snowflake method. You can even search out other methods online and give one of them a try just to see how it goes. Maybe you will find something new for the novel.


Again, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. Or you can start up a conversation if you want to talk about different elements of writing an outline. That is what this forum is for, so let's chat.